Parental economic insecurity and child health

Nancy Kong, Shelley Phipps and Barry Watson

Economics & Human Biology, 2021, vol. 43, issue C

Abstract: We explore the effects of parental economic insecurity on their children’s hyperactivity and anxiety. Our central argument is that even after controlling for current family income and employment status, parents may have legitimate feelings of economic insecurity, and these may be detrimental for their children. Data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth indicate that the health of 2- to 5-year-old children is worse when parents report themselves to be “worried about having enough money to support the family.” In particular, boys are more hyperactive and girls are more anxious when parents feel less economically secure. Changes in parenting styles appear to be channels through which parental economic insecurity affects their children.

Keywords: Canada; Anxiety; Child; Economic insecurity; Hyperactivity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D69 I15 J13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ehbiol:v:43:y:2021:i:c:s1570677x21000939

DOI: 10.1016/j.ehb.2021.101068

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